Lifter



c. J. TUPY LIFTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW QM Filed Nov. 28, 1938 a I I w W W Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNl'ED STATES LIFTER of. Illinois Application November 28, 1938; Serial No. 242,694"

8 Claims.

Thepresent invention relates generally to lifters.=foruse in handling or transporting from placeito place large. paper rolls or like articles. More particularly the invention relates to that ttype of lifter which is adapted to be hoisted and moved from place to place by a crane or overhead hoist, and comprises as its main or principle parts an elongated supporting elementwhich is adapted-..normally to.- extend horizontally and has means whereby it may be attached to a hook or other connecting device on the operating end of thecrane or hoist with-which the lifter is used, a pair. of opposed vertically and horizontally elongated jaws whichare disposedbeneath the 5 "ends ofthe supporting elementand are adapted to be brought into engagement with the sides of a roll, vertically extending arms which extend between the supporting element and the jaws and serve to carry or support the latter, and motor. driven gearing which is associated with, and carried by, the supporting element and operates when driven inone direction to shift'the arms and. jaws apart and when driven in the opposite or reverse ,di-rectionto-shift the arms soas to bringthejaws into gripping'relation with the roll or other article to be carried bythelifter.

One object of the invention isto-provide a lifter of this type which is an improvement upon previouslyadesignedlifters of the same general character-and is so designed and constructedthat it occupies niaterially less space'andhence has greaterxcapabilities of use and is readily manipulable or usable in places or spaces Where other lifters cannot be used because of their size. Another object of the invention is to provide a lift-er'of the-type underconsideration in which the "jaw carrying arms are four in number and consistof (l) a pair of primary arms which have the. upper ends thereof pivotally' connected :to the :endsi of' the horizontally extending elongated supporting element and their lower ends pivotally connected to' the upper portionsof' the jaws, and are connected 'to the motor driven gearing so that they swingoutwards in response to drive of the gearing in one direction and swing inwards in response-to drive of the gearing in the oppo site orreversezdirection; and .(2). a pair of secondary'. arms iwhich'l have the central. portions thereof pivotallyconnected 'to the lower ends of =-the primary arms and theirilower:endsrconnectedi to the centraltportions of the: jaws- Ar-firrtheriobject of the inventionxis to pro videa lifter of thelastmentioned'characterwhich includeslinkages whereby thetsecondaryiarmsare S0 controlled-during outwardv orinward shift or of the motor driven gearing for swinging the swing of the jaws'that the jaws are maintained substantially in parallel-relationat all times and hence operate effectively and-efficiently to grab the sides-of a roll or article regardless of whether it is of large or small size.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roll or article lifter which'is generally of new and improved design-and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics'of the present lifter willibe apparent from a-consideration of the fol-lowingdetailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more'particularl'y defined by claims at the conclusionhereof. i

In the'--drawings -which accompany and form a part ofthis-specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure -1 isa side' elevational view-showing a lifter embodying the invention in gripping relaview, showing the lifter in gripping or grabbing relation with a paper roll of small size;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part arms and jaws to and from'one another; and

Figure 5 is an end yiew of the friction clutchbetween the motor and the gearing.

The lifter which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is adapted in connection with a crane or overhead hoist having a connecting device at its operating end, to lift and remove'from one place to another a roll of newsprintpaper, or a like object, and comprises as its principle parts or elements, an elongated supporting element 6, a pair of opposed jaws l, a pair of jaws carrying primary arms 8, a pair of secondary arms 9, a reversible electric motor l0, and gearing .H between the motor and the arms for conjointly" shifting the latter to' and fromfone another in ing medium between the lifter and the connecting device at the operating end of the crane or hoist with which the lifter is associated.

The jaws 'I are adapted, as hereinafter described, to be shifted or swung to and from one another in response to actuation of the gearing II by the reversible electric motor I0. They are vertically and horizontally elongated and comprise pairs of laterally spaced vertically extending bars I5, upper horizontally extending shoes l6, and lower horizontally extending shoes I1, and are pivotally connected, as hereinafter described, to the lower ends of the primary and secondary arms 8 and 9. The upper shoes N5 of the jaws are connected to the central portions of the bars I5 for limited pivotal movement by means of pairs of pivot lugs I8, and a pair of horizontally extending pivot pins I9. The lugs are formed integrally with and extend outwardly from the central portions of the shoes I6 and are arranged in straddled relation with the inner central portions of the bars I5 of the jaws. The pivotpins I9 are carried by the bars I5 and extend through aligned holes in the lugs I8 and the central inner portions of the bars I5. The lower shoes H are positioned beneath the upper shoes and are connected to the lower ends of the bars I5 for limited pivotal movement by way of pairs of pivot lugs 20 and a pair of pivot pins 2I. The lugs 20 are formed integrally with and project outwardly from the central portions of the shoes I1 and are arranged in straddled relation with the lower ends of the bars I5. The pins 2| are carried by the lower ends of thebars and extend through holes in the lugs 20. By having the shoes I6 and I1 connected to the bars I5 of the jaws for limited pivotal movement the shoes adjust themselves readily to the contour of the roll. If desired, facings (not shown) of rubber or other suitable material may be applied to the inner faces of the shoes I6 and IT in order to prevent the shoes from digging into or otherwise injuring the roll when the jaws are brought into gripping relation with the latter.

The arms 8 consist of pairs of laterally spaced bars 22. The upper ends of these bars extend substantially vertically and are arranged in straddled relation with the ends of the bars I2 constituting the horizontal supporting element 6. Bolts 23 extend through aligned holes in the ends of the bars I2 and the upper ends of the bars 22 and constitute pivotal connections between the upper ends of the primary arms 8 and the ends of the element 6. 'Ihelower ends of the bars 22 constituting the primary arms 8 extend downwardly and outwardly at an angle of approximately 45" with respect to the horizontal, and embody at their lower extremities horizontally extendingpivot pins 24.

The secondary arms 9 extend substantially vertically, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and comprise pairs of bars 25. The latter are formed of steel or any other suitable material and are arranged in laterally spaced and parallel relation. The central portions of the bars25 constituting the secondary arms 9 fit against the inner faces of the lower ends of the bars 22 co'nstitutingthe primary arms 8 and have holes through which the pivot pins 24 extend. These holes are of such diameter that the central portions of the arms 9 are free to pivot on the pins 24.

The jaws 'I are connected to the primary and secondary arms 8 and 9 by upper links 26 and lower links 21. The upper links extend between and are pivotally connected to the pins 24 and the upper ends of the bar I5 of the jaws and the lower links 21 extend between and are pivotally connected to the lower ends of the bars 25 constituting the secondary arms 9 and the central portions of the bars l5. The upper and lower links are disposed in parallel relation. They extend upwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 and constitute a parallel linkage whereby the jaws I after being brought into contact with the sides of a roll or other article, are caused to move inwards into firm clamping relation with such roll or article upon raising of the lifter. Upon disengagement from the sides of a roll or article the jaws are adapted to be retracted into their normal position by way of a pair of tension springs 28. These springs are disposed between the lower ends of the bars 25 constituting the secondary arms 9 and have the upper ends thereof anchored to the outer portions of the links 26. The lower ends of the springs 28 are anchored in any suitable manner to-the inner ends of the links 21. Stop lugs 29 on the central portions of the bars 25 serve to limit upward and outward swinging of the jaws I by the springs 28. The inner ends of the links 26 are adapted to abutagainst these lugs 29 when the jaws 'I are in their retracted position.

The electric motor III for actuating the gearing II for jaw opening and closing purposes is located at one side of the lifter, as shown in Figure 2, and is positioned beneath the central portion of the horizontal supporting element 6. It is supplied with currentby way of an electrical conductor (not shown) and is subject to the control of the operator for the lifter.

The gearing'll is carried by and is for the most part mounted within a housing 30 beneath the central portion of the element 6. Said housing comprises a top plate 3|, a pair of side walls 32, a pair of end walls 33, and a semicylindrical bottom wall 34. The top plate ex- 2 tends between and is welded or otherwise fixedly secured at the side margins thereof to the central portions of the bottom faces of the bars I2 constituting the element 6, and serve to hold such bars against tilting one relatively to the other. The side walls 32 depend from and are connected tothe side margins of the top plate and are cross-connected at their lower ends by the bottomwall 34. The end walls 33 of the housing 30 fit against and are suitably secured to the end margins of the side and bottom walls and embody in the lower portions thereof a pair of aligned bearings 35. The side walls of the housing are provided above the bearings 35 with a pair of aligned bearing plates 36. The gearing Il comprises a worm 31, a worm gear 38, and a screw shaft 39. The worm 31 is hollow, as shown in Figure 4, and has the ends thereof mounted-in the bearing plate 36. It is in mesh with and serves to drive the worm gear 38 and is drivenfrom the armature shaft of the reversible electric motor II] by way of a friction clutch 40. r The armature shaft extends through the worm 31 and projects into a clutch case 4| at the side of the lifter that is oppositely disposed with respect to the motor 10. The case 4| is removably secured in any suitable manner to one of the bearing plates 36. The friction clutch 40 comprises a driving arm 42, a pair of arcuate shoes 43, and a drum 44, and permits the motor II] to run in the event that the jaws as a result of the action of the links 26 and 2! move inwards into-firm clamped relation with the roll. Regardless of the extent to which the jaws are moved inwards or outwards, the jaws are maintained in substantial parallelism as a result of the action of the linkages 52.

The herein described lifter is simple in design and may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. It efiectively and efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by the fact that its construction or design is such that it occupies but a small amount of space and hence is usable in places where heretofore designed lifters cannot be used because of large size.

Whereas the lifter has been described as being particularly adapted for use in connection with the lifting of rolls of paper, it is to be understood that by diiferent shaping of the jaws it may be used in connection with bails or other articles. In the event that the lifter is used for stacks of sheets it is contemplated that the jaws be in the form of angle iron bars and connected rigidly to the lower ends of the secondary arms 9.

The invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isi 1. A lifter comprising in combination a supporting element, a pair of upstanding primary arms beneath the element having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to said element, and adapted to swing to and from one another, a pair of upstanding secondary arms having the lower portions thereof pivotally connected to the conjointly swinging said primary arms together lower ends of the primary arms and provided with opposed article gripping jaws, and adapted to move inward and outwards with the primary arms, gearing associated with the element for with the secondary arms and jaws to and from one another, and a pair of linkages between the element and said secondary arms and. including links connected to and actuated by movable parts 5001' the gearing, for so controlling the last mentioned arms that during inward or outward movement thereof with the primary arms they serve to hold the jaws in approximate parallelism.

2. A lifter comprising in combination an elon- 55 gated horizontal supporting element, a pair of upstanding primary arms having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the ends of the element, and adapted to swing to and from one another, a pair of upstanding secondary arms having the lower portions thereof pivotally connected to the lower ends of the primary arms and provided with opposed article gripping jaws, and adapted to move inwards and outwards with the primary arms, gearing disposed beneath and 65 carried by the element for conjointly swinging said primary arms together with the secondary arms and jaws to and from one another, and means applied to the upper ends of said secondary arms and including links connected to and 70 movable with the parts of the gearing that serve conjointly to swing the primary arms, for so controlling the secondary arms that during inward and outward movement thereof with the primary arms they serve to hold the jaws in approximate 75 parallelism.

3. A lifter comprising in combination a supporting element having a depending part, a pair of upstanding primary arms having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the element and adapted to swing to and from one another, a pair of upstanding secondary arms having the lower portions thereof pivotally connected to the lower ends of the primary arms and provided with opposed article gripping jaws, and adapted to move inwards and outwards with the primary arms, gearing carried by the element for conjointly swinging said primary arms together with the secondary arms and jaws to and from one another, and linkages extending between said depending part and the upper ends of said secondary arms and actuated by the gearing for so controlling said secondary arms that during inward or outward movement thereof with the primary arms they serve to hold the jaws in approximate parallel relation.

4. A lifter, comprising in combination an elongated horizontal supporting element having a gear housing connected to and depending from the central portion thereof, a pair of upstanding primary arms having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the ends of the element, and adapted to swing to and from one another, a pair of upstanding secondary arms having the lower portions thereof pivotally connected to the lower ends of the primary arms and provided with opposed approximately parallel article gripping jaws, and adapted to move inwards and outwards with the primary arms, motor actuated reversible drive gearing mounted for the most part within the housing and operative conjointly to swing said primary arms together with the secondary arms and jaws to and from one another, and a pair of linkages extending between the housing and the upper ends of the secondary arms and actuated by the gearing for so controlling said secondary arms that during inward or outward movement thereof with the primary arms they serve to hold the jaws in approximately parallel relation.

5. A lifter comprising in combination a horizontal supporting element, apalr of upstanding primary arms having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the element, and adapted to swing to and from one another, a pair of upstanding secondary arms having the lower portions thereof pivotally connected to the lower ends of the primary arms and provided with opposed approximately parallel article gripping jaws, and adapted to move inwards and outwards with the primary arms, reversible drive gearing operative conjointly to swing the primary arms together with the secondary arms and jaws to and from one another including a shaft beneath the element with right and left hand screw threads at its ends and nuts mounted on the ends of the shaft respectively and operatively connected to the central portions of the primary arms, and linkages applied to the upper ends of the secondary arms and including links operatively connected to the nuts for so controlling said secondary arms that during inward or outward movement thereof with the primary arms they serve to hold the jaws in approximately parallel relation.

6. A lifter comprising in combination an elongated horizontal supporting element having a gear housing connected to and depending from the central portion thereof, a pair of upstanding primary arms having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the ends of the element, and

adapted to swing to and from one another, a pair of upstanding secondary arms having the lower portions thereof pivotally connected to the lower ends of the primary arms and provided with opposed vertically elongated approximately parallel article gripping jaws, and adapted to move inwards and outwards with the primary arms, reversible drive gearing for conjointly swinging said primary arms together with the secondary arms and jaws to and from one another mounted for the most part within the housing and including a horizontal shaft beneath and in parallel relation with the element and having right and left hand screw threads at its ends and a pair of nuts mounted on the ends of the shaft respectively and operatively connected to the ends of the primary arms, and a pair of three link linkages extending between and pivotally connected to the housing and the upper ends of the secondary arms and having the intermediate links thereof operatively connected to the nuts for so controlling said secondary arms that during inward or outward movement thereof with the primary arms they serve to hold the jaws in approximately parallel relation.

7. A lifter of the character described comprising in combination a supporting element, a jaw depending from and carried by said element, a second jaw positioned in opposed relation with the first mentioned jaw and movable to and from the latter for article gripping and releasing purposes, supporting means for said second pin comprising an upstanding primary arm having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the element and an upstanding secondary arm having the central portion thereof pivotally connected to the lower end of the primary arm and its lower end connected to said second jaw, gearing carried by the element for swinging said primary arm together with the secondary arm and second jaw, and a linkage between the element and the upper end of said secondary arm and including a link connected to and movable with the primary arm swinging part of the gearing, for so controlling said secondary arm that during inward and outward swinging movement thereof with the primary arm it serves to hold said second mentioned jaw in approximate parallelism with the first mentioned jaw.

'8. A lifter comprising in combination a horizontal supporting element, a jaw disposed beneath and carried by the element, a second jaw disposed in opposed relation with the first mentioned jaw and movable to and from the latter for article gripping and releasing purposes, supportingmeans for said second jaw consisting of an upstanding primary arm having the upper end thereof pivotally connected to the element and an upstanding secondary jaw having the central portion thereof pivotally connected to the lower end of the primary arm and its lower end connected to said second jaw, reversible drive gearing operative to swing the primary arm together with the secondary arm and said second jaw to and from said first mentioned jaw including a shaft beneath the element with a screw thread at one end thereof and a nut mounted on the screw thread and operatively connected to the central portion of the primary arm, and a linkage applied to the upper end of the secondary arm and including a link operatively connected to the nut for so controlling said secondary arm that during inward or outward movement 

